Steam heating apparatus



Aug. 30, 1932. G. J. MULLER STEAM HEATING A PPARATUS Filed Feb. 1. 1950TITIT /N VENTOR A TTORNE-J Patented Aug. 30, 1932 PATENT orrlcr.

' GEORGE J. MULLER, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND STEAM HEATING APPARATUSApplication filed February 1, i930. Serial No. 425,212.

This invention relates to an improved apparatus for generating steam,particularly for domestiche'ating purposes, and has for one of itsobjects toprovide animproved apparatus that shall be exceedinglysimplein construction and operation and economical to install and maintain.

A further object of theinvention is to provide a novel arrangement ofapparatus that 19 may be operated with a minimum quantity of water, thusenablingthe latter tobe rapidly heated to the desired temperature andwhich will deliver the steam to the system in a comparatively dry state.

Another objectof the invention is to provide a novel apparatus includinga tubular boiler with a steam space therein, combined with a separatingchamberexterior to the boiler, and interposed between the system and thesteam-space in the boiler, for effecting a second separation of steamand water, and to provide a return passage from the separating chamberto the boiler below the water level of the latter and preferably nearits bottom, which passage preferably has a dip or loop extending belowthe lower crown sheet of the boiler in order to lessen backpressure insaid return passage, so that water carried over with the steam by thepressure in the so boiler during the first separation, will be caught inthe separating chamber during the next separation, andreturned to theboiler, while the steamseparated therefrom may be sent to and throughthe system. I

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel apparatusfor domestic steam heating, including a tubular boiler with awater levelmaintained at a point between the V i as to prevent it from being blownout of the boiler through the piping system and thus A opposite ends ofthe tubes, and with a steam separating chamber exterior to the boilerfrom which the steam is delivered to the system.

lVit-h these, and other objects in view, the invention is more or lessdiagrammatically illustrated in the accompanying drawing,

wherein',- p g Fig. 1. shows the improved apparatus in front view, and iFig. 2. illustrates the same in the complete system but on a small scaleand diagrammatically.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 10 designates the shell of atubular boiler with a fire-box 11 at the base thereof in which latterthe heating means, of any desired form,

may be housed.

In the present lnstance the shell of the boiler is of the vertical type,but this is not essential to the invention as the same may as readily beof a horizontal form.

Int-he present disclosure, the boiler shell is mounted on a sort ofheader 12 which latter is supported over the firebox, and across theheader there extends a lower tubesheet 13. v

An upper tube-sheet 14 extends across the boiler-shell nearthetopthereof and a series of tubes 15. extend vertically in the shell withtheir lower ends passing through the lower tube-sheet and their upper"ends passing through the upper tube-sheet.

The upper tube-sheet 1 4 is located below the top of the boiler shell toprovide a space 16 which is the equivalent of a smoke-box and a pipe 17for carrying off the products of combustion is provided at the upperside of the shell.

To better understand the invention, it is pointed out that in actualpractice one structure embodying the invention in full size employsboiler-tubes of one inch diameter and twenty-four inches long while theboiler shell 10 is only twenty-eight inches high.

The problem the present invention meets and overcomes, is theutilization of a small quantity of water which may be rapidly heated andwhich water will be so controlled depleting the water in the boileritself.

By means of my invention, I efiect one separation of steam from thewater in the boiler itself and then after the steam has left the boilerand been removed from the direct heat of the latter, I efiect a secondseparation of steam from the particles of water that have passed outwith the steam, and return the separated water from this second stage ofseparation,.back to the boiler,

in the boiler. of dlscharge 1nto the disengaging chamber while the steamin a comparatively dry state is sent through the heating system.

The header 12, is preferably provided with a plurality of spuds 18,through which openings extend in order that any one or more of them mayserve as a connection for the piping of the circulating system. Any oneor more of the spuds not used may readily be capped or blanked.

The water level in the boiler is indicated by the horizontal line 19,and by reference to Fig. 1, it will be noted that a gauge tube 20 islocated on the side of the boiler shell to indicate the water level.

Cocks 21 and 22 respectively are also lo cated in the side of theshell,one above the water line 19 or communicating with the steam space23, which is in the boiler between the water level and the uppertubesheet 14. The other cock 22, extends through the side'of the boilershell below the water line.

From the steam space 23 of the boiler there extends a pipe 24 whichenters a shell 25 in which there is a steam separating'ordisengaging-chamber 26. This shell and its chamber are exterior totheboiler and are removed from the direct action of the heat This pipe 24has its point 26 suflicientlv above the bottom thereof to create in thelower portion of said chamber a gravity head sufficient to cause waterthat is carried over into said chamber to return to the boiler at somepoint below its water level, and preferably near its bottom.

From the top of this shell and the chamber 26 therein there leads a pipe27 to the heating system in which the radiators 28 are located so thatthe steam may be distributed as desired.

For the purpose of permitting gravity return of water to the boiler fromthe bottom of the steam separating or disengaging chamber 26, there is apassage 29, in the present instance in the form of a pipe, and for thepurpose of minimizing back pressure in this passage the returning wateris caused to reach the boiler through a dip or loop, in this instanceprovided in the form of a U-bend 30 which extends below and then leadsupwardly to the water space in the lower header 12.

A return pipe 31 from the radiators and heating system extends backtoward the source of supply and this pipe may, with advantage, also havea U-bend 32 at a point below the header 12 and then extend up andcommunicate with the depending pipe 29 at a point above the header andbelow the water level of the boiler.

It will thus be noted that the return pipe 31 will convey back all waterof condensation that has been produced in the system, the latter being aclosed one. i

by purging, but this water will not be car- I ried through the heatingsystem for it will simply deposit in the chamber 26 and immediately becarried by pipe 29 back to the header 12 and boiler.

The moisture in the steam however that enters chamber 26 will beseparated therefrom in that chamber and also return to the header andboiler, while the comparatively dry steam will pass through pipe 27 tothe system and condensation therefrom will be returned. by pipes 31 and29 to the header and boiler.

Because of the interposition of the separating chamber 26, between thesteam space in the boiler and the piping system and the pro will takeplace; the water of this second separation w ll be immediately directedback toward the boiler while the comparatively dry steam will be carriedoff from the shellchamber for utilization in the heating system.

Having described my invention, I claim,-

1. An improved steam generating apparatus including, in combination, aboiler adapted to havea water level which leaves a steam disengagingspace therein, a shell exterior to the boiler and having a water andsteam separating chamber, at least a portion of which chamber is abovethe water level of the boiler and has a steam outlet, a connectionbetween the steam space of the boiler and the chamber of said shell, anda water circulating connection from said shell to the boiler at a pointbelow the water level of the latter; the last-named connection includinga loop for preventing reverse flow from said boiler to said shell.

2. A steam generating apparatus as described in claim 1, in which bothlegs of said loop are beyond the range of direct heat transfer from theboiler to said loop.

3. A steam generating apparatus as described in claim 1 which alsoincludes a condensate return connected with said water circulatingconnection at a point below the Water line of said boiler.

4. A steam generating apparatus as described in'claim 1 which alsoincludes a condensate return and in which said condensate returndelivers to the water circulating connection below the water level ofthe boiler but above the said loop.

5. A steam generating apparatus as de' scribed in claim 1 which alsoincludes a condensate return connected with said water circulatingconnection below the water level of the boiler, and which saidcondensate return includes a loop which dips below its point ofconnection with said water circulating connection.

In testimony whereof GEORGE J. MULLER.

Iafiix my signature.

